Calls Intensify for Christie Sides' Firing After Loss to Aces

The Indiana Fever faced off against the reigning-champion Las Vegas Aces in a highly-anticipated WNBA matchup on Wednesday night.

The Fever got off to a hot start with a 7-0 lead, but A'ja Wilson and the Aces settled in and quickly reclaimed the advantage. Las Vegas took a nine-point lead into the halftime break, and never gave the lead back to the home-team Fever.

At the final whistle, the final score read 86-75 in favor of the visiting Aces. The Fever are now 0-3 against Las Vegas in the 2024 WNBA season.

Indiana head coach Christie Sides has been taking heat from a significant portion of Fever fans throughout the year. And following this loss, the calls for her dismissal are intensifying.

Fans were particularly upset with Sides' late-game rotation decisions, calling out her choice to play Kristy Wallace and Katie Lou Samuelson down the stretch.

"And this is exactly why I can never get behind Christie sides, she will show you every time why she is not fit for the job," one fan wrote.

"The Fever have won in spite of Christie Sides this season. Tonight she reminded all of us why she shouldn't be coaching. What on Earth was she thinking with that rotation?!" another said.

"Christie sides IS PURPOSELY THROWING THIS GAME AGAINST THE Aces... she ...MUST MUST MUST BE FIRED!!!!" another added.

"End of the season and christie sides still testing out new rotations…. fire that woman NOW," another wrote.

Caitlin Clark finished the Fever's loss with 16 points, six assists and four rebounds. Aliyah Boston, who was held off the court for much of the second half due to foul trouble, finished with six points and 10 rebounds.

Sides and the Fever will have another shot at the Aces when they face off again on Friday night.

Friday's game will tipoff at 7:30 p.m. ET from Indiana's Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

Related: Fever Announcers Facing Backlash Over Puzzling A'ja Wilson Mistake